Denver Undocumented Immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra Has Been Granted A Stay Of Removal

Jeanette Vizguerra has been living in a Denver church since February, fearing deportation and being separated from her four children. Finally, after three months, Vizguerra has been granted a stay of removal until 2019 and is free to leave the church in time for Mother’s Day. Vizguerra made international headlines when a private bill was introduced in Congress to offer her permanent residency, making her a prominent face of the immigration debate under President Trump’s administration. She has even been named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2017.

Vizguerra, an undocumented mother of four, has been granted a stay of removal.

Jeanette Vizguerra has spent the last three months hiding in the First Unitarian Society of Denver to avoid being deported. Vizguerra sought sanctuary in the church instead of attending a scheduled check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). After learning her original stay of removal order had expired, Vizguerra feared she would be deported, so she made the decision to stay in the church.

Vizguerra is the second immigrant in Denver this month to be granted a stay of removal after fears of deportation forced them to seek refuge.

CO mom is granted a "stay of removal". Jeanette Vizguerra leaves Denver church and returns to her family. https://t.co/0TyZUXF5vs

Vizguerra and Arturo Hernandez Garcia are both undocumented immigrants living in Denver. Hernandez Garcia was recently given a much shorter stay of only 30 days which allows for him to see his daughter graduate from high school.

The announcement of Vizguerra’s stay comes just days before Mother’s Day.

Jeanette Vizguerra hid in a church to avoid deportation. She's now walking free for Mother's Day https://t.co/eLJPtoSFtM

“It’s a special day for me because I will be able to celebrate Mother’s Day with my children and grandchildren,” Vizguerra said at a press conference, according to TIME. “Their struggle is my struggle, and my struggle is their struggle, because we are a community.”

“ICE finally chose justice and granted a stay for Jeanette, freeing her from the church basement where she has sought shelter these past few months, and Arturo’s circumstances have been resolved for the moment,” DeGette said in a statement on her website. “But such situations should never arise in the first place. People who contribute to their communities and live peacefully for decades in this country – at a time when immigrants of all types are being demonized – deserve better. Congress needs to get serious about comprehensive immigration reform rather than continuing with the patchwork of measures that we now have. And in the meantime, the Executive Branch needs to show more compassion.”

Vizguerra’s supporters joined her as she left the church this morning for the first time in years.

"We will not be moved." Jeanette Vizguerra and supporters walk out of First Baptist in downtown Denver. pic.twitter.com/DUUjqht7pZ